Insurance will pay seaman's medical bills

The administrator of the health insurance program for military families said Seaman Justin Burns, who cited crushing debt caused in part by the birth of a baby and his wife's illness as reasons for his taking unauthorized absence from the Navy, will be relieved of most, if not all, of that burden.

Burns was arrested for desertion May 26 at the home of his mother in Cape Girardeau. Police arrested a second sailor the same day at that address -- Zachari Valentin, who is a shipmate of Burns' on the guided missile frigate USS Carr.

"We contacted the wife directly to find out what was going on," said Molly Tuttle of HealthNet, the TRICARE administrator for the eastern United States. "She had never submitted claims for the services because she wasn't sure she was covered under her husband's health plan. It also explains why we didn't have any claims."

Between the birth of his son, Landon, and a kidney infection for which Brittany Burns received treatment, the couple racked up about $15,000 in bills, Brittany Burns said Wednesday.

In a long e-mail to the Southeast Missourian explaining his actions, Burns said "the Tricare company simply refused to pay them."

The lack of claims won't impair the payment of the bills, Tuttle said, and the most the Burns will be responsible for is about $1,000.

The claims were not submitted by the hospitals providing services -- the baby was born in Cape Girardeau, while Brittany Burns was treated for her kidney infection in Virginia -- because Brittany Burns wasn't signed up for TRICARE at the time she received treatment, Tuttle said. Her eligibility has been backdated to provide her with coverage, she said.

"There are opportunities through the TRICARE organization to learn and understand these benefits," Tuttle said. "But it can be a complicated program at times. Sometimes you don't really learn about your insurance until you have to use it."

Burns is at sea aboard the Carr and could not be reached for comment. His wife, Brittany Burns, said she was contacted by HealthNet on Tuesday and is "satisfied that they are going to help with pretty much everything."

Brittany Burns also talked about the various comments about the desertion story that have been appearing on the Southeast Missourian's Web site, www.semissourian.com. She and Justin Burns will be seeking a divorce, she said, but nothing has been filed.She said she drove separately from Virginia the day before Justin Burns left his ship without permission, she said. A commenter had said she flew to Missouri.

Justin Burns didn't tell his wife he left the base without permission, she said. He told her he was on an extended leave until the Navy finished discharge paperwork, she said.

Extinguishing the medical debt will be a big relief, she said. "They are taking care of about $15,000 worth of hospital bills, and it is taking a lot off my shoulders."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126